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[justforkix]

Gambhir is doubtful after getting hit by Sreesanth in the nets.

In any case, the team is inclined to play 5 bowlers with Murali Kartik also coming in.

So, from news so far, changes expected are Murali Kartik for Rohit Sharma and Ganguly for Gambhir (irrespective of whether he was injured or not).

[kban1]

stupid - irrespective of 4 or 5 still equals 300, so why have murali instead of rohit ??

[justforkix]

Also, RPS may come in possibly for SS 

[justforkix]

Rajput takes exception to Vengsarkar's remarks. Says Vengsarkar should know better than to talk during the middle of a series and his remarks has affected the team's morale. He also says the team is not happy with Vengsarkar traveling along with the team to every venue and involving himself in team selection and strategies.

[kban1]

which remarks ?

[justforkix]

http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php?topic=13042.0

[dhruvdeepak]

Rajput takes exception to Vengsarkar's remarks. Says Vengsarkar should know better than talk during the middle of a series and his remarks has affected the team's morale. He also says the team is not happy with Vengsarkar traveling along with the team to every venue and involving himself in team selection and strategies.

OUCH. i like Rajput. does vengsucka not have a TV at home? maybe his cable operator can get him neo sports. he can watch from there

[OldPal]

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indvaus/content/story/314134.html

International cricket returns to Sector 16

George Binoy

October 7, 2007


 
The Sector 16 Stadium in Chandigarh is all ready to host an international game again © Cricinfo
 
 

The last time an international game was played at the Sector 16 Stadium, Sachin Tendulkar was 20 years old and had not yet opened the innings for India. That was nearly 15 years ago, when India beat England in an ODI in 1993.

The building of the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium at Mohali in 1993 took cricket away from Sector 16 and even first-class matches were not staged here for ten years before Haryana played the Ranji Trophy Plate semi-final in 2004-05.

As you drive through the area, the stadium is so inconspicuous from the outside that you could easily miss it. The first signs of an international event being held in the area are the numerous policemen milling around.

There are no towering multi-tier concrete stands, and no elaborate pavilion. As you enter, a quaint ground with a ring of low, uncovered stands with plenty of trees surrounding it comes into view. On a clear day you can see the Kasauli hills in the distance. It's not Cape Town and the Table Mountain, but the venue is idyllic compared to some of the other grounds in India.

Over the last two years a lot of work has gone into sprucing the stadium up and the India-Australia ODI on Monday will go a long way in determining the venue's future. A sprinkler system is in place to water the ground, the dressing rooms have been refurbished, a giant screen has been installed and a new media centre, which shows no signs of the minor fire that was reported on Saturday, has been built.

The outfield is in lovely condition with an even covering of grass, the boundaries are on the shorter side, and the pitch is expected to be a batting beauty. It's all set up perfectly for yet another run-fest.

[gouravk]

wow ... i donno much abt rajput ... but i really like his statement ... mainly becoz it is the truth ... and truth alone triumphs !

[justforkix]

Rajput takes exception to Vengsarkar's remarks. Says Vengsarkar should know better than talk during the middle of a series and his remarks has affected the team's morale. He also says the team is not happy with Vengsarkar traveling along with the team to every venue and involving himself in team selection and strategies.

OUCH. i like Rajput. does vengsucka not have a TV at home? maybe his cable operator can get him neo sports. he can watch from there

He doesen't even need cable or neo sports - it comes on DD National 

[gouravk]

Sreesanth has made a contribution already. 

[OldPal]

Gambhir is doubtful after getting hit by Sreesanth in the nets.

In any case, the team is inclined to play 5 bowlers with Murali Kartik also coming in.

So, from news so far, changes expected are Murali Kartik for Rohit Sharma and Ganguly for Gambhir (irrespective of whether he was injured or not).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/7032542.stm

BBC says he slipped -
India's senior stars will have a point to prove in the fourth one-day match against Australia on Monday.

Australia have stormed to a 2-0 lead in the seven-match series after the first game was abandoned because of rain.

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who opted out of India's World Twenty20 triumph, have struggled for runs and their selection has been questioned.

Fellow veteran Sourav Ganguly could play in Chandigarh if a groin injury rules out opener Gautam Gambhir.

The left-hander slipped while batting in the nets on Sunday and will undergo an MRI scan to assess the extent of his injury.
Former captain Ganguly missed the opening two matches because of a hamstring injury but is now fit again.

Australia, the world 50-over champions, could ensure they cannot lose the series if they win again

[OldPal]

As per CI's latest article:
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indvaus/content/story/314193.html

Teams
India (likely) 1 Sachin Tendulkar, 2 Sourav Ganguly, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Rahul Dravid, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Murali Kartik, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Sreesanth.

Australia (likely) 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Brad Hodge, 7 Brad Hogg, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Stuart Clark.
----------------------------------------
======================================================

I however don't agree with throwing Mk in middle immidiately after he was involved more with media than with playing cricket.
Also playing with 4 bowlers we have conceded less runs than 5 bowlers-Not that this should be yardstick..but why 5 bowlers when SG ,SRt and YS can roll their arms .We can hope one of three come good.
We need backup in batting here.
SRT ,RD haven't done justice till now(bat). SG has not played since some time. Remain- RU,YS,MSD..
RU has failed only in last match thus i would not say anything abt him.. i think he is a very good bat at no3. position with the quality of shots he has.
IKP has been wanting in batting in last couple of games...
Thus i dont understand the logic of removing a bat and getting Mk in .

[OldPal]

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1126091
No team rift :Uthappa
CHANDIGARH: Batsman Robin Uthappa denied reports Sunday of a rift between veteran and junior members of India's cricket team after the chief selector made a pitch for the inclusion of more youngsters.   

Dilip Vengsarkar had put the senior players on notice Saturday, saying there were young players on the fringe who were raring to make it onto the team and make their places count.   

report continued below Latest News on DNAINDIA.com
•BJP formally withdraws from Karnataka govt more »
•CPI-M counts the cost of early election more »
•Differences between Deshmukh, Rau widen more »
more »
Uthappa, himself a talented 21-year-old, denied Vengsarkar's comments had caused any problems ahead of the fourth match of the one-day series with Australia, which the home team is trailing 2-0.   

"There is absolutely nothing like a senior versus junior thing in the team. It's all in the media. Everyone is enjoying themselves in the dressing room and it's amazing to be part of this team," he said.   

Uthappa also said Gautam Gambhir was doubtful for the fourth one-dayer here on Monday after he sustained a groin injury during practice.   

Gambhir slipped while batting in the nets and had to be rushed to the hospital for a scan.   

Gambhir's place in the squad could be taken by former skipper Sourav Ganguly, who was not part of the team that was drubbed at Kochi and Hyderabad.   

Ganguly is believed to have recovered from a hamstring injury that he picked up during fielding in the first one-dayer at Bangalore, which was abandoned due to rain.   

Uthappa also admitted that the team's intensity had dropped amidst the euphoria over the triumph in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa last month.   

"All of us were a bit knackered up after the Twenty20 victory. It was difficult to shift gears and our intensity level dropped," he said.       

[OldPal]

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1126097
Ponting reveals plans to check Yuvraj, Big ThreeCHANDIGARH: Their 2-0 cushion notwithstanding, Australia is in no mood to slacken the noose and captain Ricky Ponting claimed that his side has devised strategies to silence Yuvraj Singh, along with Team India's 'Big Three', in the fourth cricket one-dayer here on Monday.

Yuvraj's sizzling 121-run knock in the third match at Hyderabad was in a lost cause but an impressed Ponting reckoned the dashing left-hander could prove a thorn in the flesh again on Friday.

report continued below Latest News on DNAINDIA.com
•BJP formally withdraws from Karnataka govt more »
•CPI-M counts the cost of early election more »
•Differences between Deshmukh, Rau widen more »
more »
"He plays very well and has two-three centuries against us. His innings in the last match was exceptional."

"We had a meeting in which we discussed line and length against him and hopefully adjusting a few things would do it for us," Ponting said after the side's practice session at the Sector 16 Stadium.

And going by Ponting, similar plans have been put in place for the trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

"I think we have a little bit of advantage because we know their strength and weaknesses, unlike some of the youngsters in the Indian side. We know how we got them out a few times in the past."

"Anyway, they are quality players and on any given day, they can be matchwinners for India," he added.

Ponting informed that Nathan Bracken would return to the side for Friday's match.

"Bracken has been in great form and he is among the top ranked bowlers. He will come back to the side but we'll decide the final eleven tomorrow."

Batting line-up would remain the same. It was tough to leave out Brad Haddin after his brilliant knocks in the first two matches but we want to give chance to (Brad) Hodge as well," he reasoned.

The Australian captain also made it clear the team would not lower its guard.

"Things can change pretty quickly in one-day cricket," he said.

Ponting hinted that his team wanted to prove a point in the ongoing series.

"After the Twenty20 semi-final, we probably got couple of days more than India. We wanted to prove a point and the next opportunity for us was this seven-match series against India.
   
"We are not living in the past, rather looking at future and trying to go better and better everyday", he said, in an obvious hint to series of felicitations for the Indian Twenty20 team.

Ponting, meanwhile, felt a lot has been said about aggression and he stood by his opinion it did not include mindless antics.

"What you actually do counts more than what you say out there. Being aggressive does not mean more body language, stares or exchange of words. It's all about playing aggressive cricket even when you are under pressure."

"It actually does not matter what you say. After all, this is a game of cricket where skills come first," he added.

Ponting had a good look at the pitch here and said he would like to bat first again on Friday.

"The wicket looks pretty dry and I guess it would get slow and low as it progresses. If we win the toss, we would definitely love to bat first on this track," he said

[justforkix]

WOW - Bracken for Hopes : Lee, Johnson, Clark, Bracken, Hogg - this is some bowling attack. Good Luck to India in beating this bowling attack

[justforkix]

TEAM ANNOUNCED

SG, SRT, RU, YS, RD, MSD, IP, ZK, HS, MK, RPS

12th man - KKD

SG in for injured GG
Kartik for Rohit
RPS for SS (WTF) 

[kingcool1432]

SG in for injured GG

 

[WicketView]

Is GG really injured?

I have so far read that he (a) was hit by SS, (b) slipped (c) strained his groin. Not that all of these absolutely can't happen together.

Also, I thought Mohali was a fastish track, why do they want to play more spinners than pacers?

And wow, we now have a coach who can take the bull by his horns !!!... in fact I read somewhere (but can't find it now) that DBV has already said he was misinterpreted: His statement applied to every player in the team, not sure if that was a reaction to Rajput.

[gouravk]

Crazy this ! I am all for picking RPS in the team but not instead of Sreesanth ! Both should have been there ! Again we are going in with a suboptimal combination and expecting to put up a fight.

[indcric]

TEAM ANNOUNCED

SG, SRT, RU, YS, RD, MSD, IP, ZK, HS, MK, RPS

12th man - KKD

SG in for injured GG
Kartik for Rohit
RPS for SS (WTF) 

WOW - Bracken for Hopes : Lee, Johnson, Clark, Bracken, Hogg - this is some bowling attack. Good Luck to India in beating this bowling attack

Where are you getting all this information from? Some source in Indian team? and who is the source for Australian team (Indian team might do well, if they know this Aus source)? 

[justforkix]

TEAM ANNOUNCED

SG, SRT, RU, YS, RD, MSD, IP, ZK, HS, MK, RPS

12th man - KKD

SG in for injured GG
Kartik for Rohit
RPS for SS (WTF) 

WOW - Bracken for Hopes : Lee, Johnson, Clark, Bracken, Hogg - this is some bowling attack. Good Luck to India in beating this bowling attack

Where are you getting all this information from? Some source in Indian team? and who is the source for Australian team (Indian team might do well, if they know this Aus source)? 

HEHE - I wish.

Nah - It is just from all these news channels in India that carry some update on the match every hour.

[poondu]

Also, I thought Mohali was a fastish track, why do they want to play more spinners than pacers?

Chandigarh different from Mohali ?

[Jai]

While I agree that DBV shouldn't be travelling with the team (but I believe he's not the only one, the selectors themselves follow a rotation policy  ) and interfere with team selection, I don't see what's so wrong with DBV's comments on youngsters. DIdn't I read an interview of Rajput sometime back on Rediff with a heading like the 2020 team is the future of Indian cricket? That's a fact. What's the issue here really?

[OldPal]

With regards to some comments above from various DGinas..
1. YES GG is injured .. I saw a TV clip of he being helped out by couple others out of ground ...
With or without injury i think SG should have made that CUT ..
2. The match is at Sector 16 stadium that is being used after i think abt 14 years ...Yes this is not Mohali ..if some of you have been thinking that.
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indvaus/content/ground/57993.html
3. from various reports i have read till now and seen, MK seems to be in team ,This however is very surprising for me.
SG, SRT,
 RU, YS, RD, MSD,
IP, ZK, HS, MK, RPS/SS

When was MK's last outing .. I hope team has seen him in nets before making such a decision.
Anyway .. i am going to change the fantasy team and get SS and GG out , just incase i sleep early ..

[avinashgodkhindi]

3 left armer seamers without a right armer is a tried and tested and failed theory. Stupid to say the least. All 3 will become ineffective as the batsman will get used to it. The biggest advantage is that the leftie has an awkward line to the right handed batman and the batsman (assuming a rightie) can never actually come fully in line of the ball to play it as it is normally slanting away from him when delivered from over the wicket. Facing that line of attack repeatedly will make the lefties ineffective.

Also in the slog it kind of becomes a little easier to go after left armers bcoz they can't bring the bowl in when there is not much swing at that stage and going round the wicket changes the angle considerably because they deliver from wide of the stumps creating a big possibility of straying down the leg. The best bet in the last overs is to bowl straight, full and wicket to wicket. Given the inherent and awkward angles from which lefties deliver the bowl bowling wicket to wicket straight is tougher. Bob Woolmer wrote a big article about this the last time Pak was played in India.

If a team has 4 or 5 world class leg spinners will it play all of them? I don't think so. ZK, IKP and RPS are all of similar height, similar pace  ( OK IKP is a little slower than the other 2, about 5 mph) and rely on swing. What is the differentiator?

We must rotate these three  lefties (play 2 of them) , bowl SS in the next 2 ODI's against Oz and look for another right armer in the last 2 games, Jogi is my bet to bowl from the 13th to the 20th and then in the slog.

[pipsqueak]

“They have certainly adapted themselves well to the conditions here,” he said. “Man to man we are still a better side.”

          

awesome - we will soon match the world champs in "giving back" - admirable quest..err..and what about cricket?



India firm on returning Aussie fire


OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Chandigarh: The on-field verbal dual that has somewhat marred the spirit of the ongoing India-Australia one-day series, is likely to continue here if the opposition does so, Robin Uthappa said on Sunday.

The Karnataka batsman, who addressed the customary pre-match news conference instead of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, said the Indian team was not going to be bogged down by the aggressive nature of the Australian cricketers.

“We are going to give it back,” said Uthappa sharply when asked about the sledging by the visitors. “We are going to hit back at them. You must have seen how we are talking back on the field. I am also doing so. There is not going to be any let up on this issue.”

Uthappa said the Indian team had no intention of lying a bit low in the last one-dayer in Hyderabad. “We were a bit mellowed because of too much media hype. We know where to draw the line.”

When asked what he felt about the way Ricky Ponting and his boys behaved on the field, the Indian batsman laughed and said: “We are learning fast from them. It won’t be long before we catch up with them.”

The relationship between the two teams has been sore from the beginning of the series and it reached the lowest ebb in Kochi. The Match Referee had to call both the captains and tell them to show restrain.

Unlike Uthappa, Australia captain Ricky Ponting tried to play down things and said Indians were yet to understand the meaning of aggression. “Aggressive cricket is not all about body language, staring at the opponents and exchanging a few words,” said Ponting. “To me it is playing cricket the hard way. That’s what we do.”

Ponting said India and Australia have been playing quite regularly but never had any problem before. “Perhaps some young boys in the Indian team are a little more enthusiastic.”

Antics apart, there were suggestions that Aussies had proved better than India in cricketing abilities. Uthappa didn’t agree.

“They have certainly adapted themselves well to the conditions here,” he said. “Man to man we are still a better side.”

The Twenty20 cricket, according to Uthappa, has proved to be little disadvantageous for the Indian team. “It took us some time to come out of the momentum. We didn’t get much time to prepare against a team like Australia. But now we are ready for the battle.”

Matthew Hayden is yet another riddle the Indians are yet to solve. Uthappa said the bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad has been working with the bowlers to curb the Aussie opener. “Both our bowling and batting should be much better on Monday,” he asserted.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071008/asp/sports/story_8408733.asp

[WicketView]

“They have certainly adapted themselves well to the conditions here,” he said. “Man to man we are still a better side.”

          

awesome - we will soon match the world champs in "giving back" - admirable quest..err..and what about cricket?



India firm on returning Aussie fire


OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Chandigarh: The on-field verbal dual that has somewhat marred the spirit of the ongoing India-Australia one-day series, is likely to continue here if the opposition does so, Robin Uthappa said on Sunday.

The Karnataka batsman, who addressed the customary pre-match news conference instead of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, said the Indian team was not going to be bogged down by the aggressive nature of the Australian cricketers.

“We are going to give it back,” said Uthappa sharply when asked about the sledging by the visitors. “We are going to hit back at them. You must have seen how we are talking back on the field. I am also doing so. There is not going to be any let up on this issue.”

Uthappa said the Indian team had no intention of lying a bit low in the last one-dayer in Hyderabad. “We were a bit mellowed because of too much media hype. We know where to draw the line.”

When asked what he felt about the way Ricky Ponting and his boys behaved on the field, the Indian batsman laughed and said: “We are learning fast from them. It won’t be long before we catch up with them.”

The relationship between the two teams has been sore from the beginning of the series and it reached the lowest ebb in Kochi. The Match Referee had to call both the captains and tell them to show restrain.

Unlike Uthappa, Australia captain Ricky Ponting tried to play down things and said Indians were yet to understand the meaning of aggression. “Aggressive cricket is not all about body language, staring at the opponents and exchanging a few words,” said Ponting. “To me it is playing cricket the hard way. That’s what we do.”

Ponting said India and Australia have been playing quite regularly but never had any problem before. “Perhaps some young boys in the Indian team are a little more enthusiastic.”

Antics apart, there were suggestions that Aussies had proved better than India in cricketing abilities. Uthappa didn’t agree.

“They have certainly adapted themselves well to the conditions here,” he said. “Man to man we are still a better side.”

The Twenty20 cricket, according to Uthappa, has proved to be little disadvantageous for the Indian team. “It took us some time to come out of the momentum. We didn’t get much time to prepare against a team like Australia. But now we are ready for the battle.”

Matthew Hayden is yet another riddle the Indians are yet to solve. Uthappa said the bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad has been working with the bowlers to curb the Aussie opener. “Both our bowling and batting should be much better on Monday,” he asserted.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071008/asp/sports/story_8408733.asp

Wow, how come he was not pressed for an explanation as to why the better side lost so convincingly in the two games played, and were far from being on top when the other one was called off?

[dextrous]

While I agree that DBV shouldn't be travelling with the team (but I believe he's not the only one, the selectors themselves follow a rotation policy  ) and interfere with team selection, I don't see what's so wrong with DBV's comments on youngsters. DIdn't I read an interview of Rajput sometime back on Rediff with a heading like the 2020 team is the future of Indian cricket? That's a fact. What's the issue here really?

jai,
selectors choose the team for ALL matches played within india...i thought...nothing new.

[RicePlateReddy]

“Man to man we are still a better side.”

ROTFLMAO.

Mano a mano:

Matt Hayden versus Gautam Gambhir/Saurav Ganguly
Gilchrist versus Dhoni
Ponting versus Tendulkar
Symonds versus Yuvraj Singh
Michael Clarke versus Dravid
Haddin versus Uthappa
Hodge versus Rohit Sharma

Lee versus Sreesanth
Clarke versus Zaheer Khan
Johnson versus R P Singh
Hopes versus Powar
Hogg versus Harbhajan Singh

I think Uthappa should be a little smarter in getting under the skin of these Australians.

[pipsqueak]

"Will you walk into my parlour?"
Said Ponting to Uthappa;

Alas, alas! how very soon
This silly lil uthappa
Hearing his wily comments, taunting words,
Came quickly flitting by,
Thinking only of his sledging skills
And "giving back" drills...

[kingcool1432]

Maybe  he means they're  'better people'

[poondu]

 
 India team
 SC Ganguly, SR Tendulkar, RV Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, R Dravid, MS Dhoni, IK Pathan, M Kartik, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, RP Singh 
 
 
 Australia team
 AC Gilchrist, ML Hayden, BJ Hodge, MJ Clarke, RT Ponting, A Symonds, GB Hogg, JR Hopes, B Lee, NW Bracken, MG Johnson 
 
 
It's India v Australia time again. It's been quite a ride. As the Times of India's Bachi Karkaria wrote on the verbal wars : "With all this sledging, you'd think cricket was a game played in Antarctica."

TossDhoni chooses to bat. Three changes in the Indian team. RP Singh, Sourav Ganguly and Murali Kartik are in, replacing Sreesanth, Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma.

For Australia, Nathan Bracken has replaced Stuart Clark
 
 

[poondu]

4 lefties and Bhajji 

[OldPal]

Let us see if that makes any differnence..
Time for first lefty with SRT..

[pieterSAN]

7 frontline left arm bowlers between the two teams. A first?

AUS - Bracken, Johnson, Hogg
IND - Zak, RPS, Pathan, Murali Karthik

[dextrous]

7 frontline left arm bowlers between the two teams. A first?

AUS - Bracken, Johnson, Hogg
IND - Zak, RPS, Pathan, Murali Karthik

if we add the back-up bowlers...yuvraj, ganguly, and m.clark...that makes it 10!

[ruchir]

I don't think replacing SS with RPS was a good idea..... now a very monotonous attack

[ruchir]

Also, playing RD while resting RS is a travesty....

[pipsqueak]

7 frontline left arm bowlers between the two teams. A first?

AUS - Bracken, Johnson, Hogg
IND - Zak, RPS, Pathan, Murali Karthik

if we add the back-up bowlers...yuvraj, ganguly, and m.clark...that makes it 10!

SG is a right arm bowler?